Aftermath, Ezekiel's return part 2: The Visits, Regrets, and Demons that need to be buried
1 MONTH AFTER BLAINELEY'S 1ST VISIT, 5 MONTHS TILL ALL-STARS BEGINS
Zeke's POV: It's great that Blaineley was able to get this apartment for me. I'm grateful that my training is underway, but there are some demons that need to be put to rest before I move on… I reach for the phone, and call Blaineley's number… "Yes?" "Hey, it's Zeke; I want you to arrange something for me Blaine…" "Anything Zeke" she replies. "There's a list of people I'd Like to talk to... just to clear my head you know? I don't want to be so crazed as to be kicked off the first day again eh" He says.
"Ok Zeke, that makes sense… who do you want to get in contact with?" "My Team Victory Teammates… I want to talk to Bridgette, DJ, Harold, Lindsay, and Leshawna. I need to know why they voted me off eh" "Ok… that can be arranged" Blaineley replies. "I also wanna talk to Izzy and Anne Maria eh"
Blaineley's POV: I hear what he's says… I understand Team Victory, but why Izzy and Anne Maria? "Um if you don't mind me asking, but why Anne Maria and Izzy?" "Because I didn't mean to scare her the way I did, plus I'm the one responsible for her being eliminated" he replies. "And Izzy?" Blaineley pries. "Sigh… okay, I'm going to tell you something I've not told anyone… not my parents, not Dr. Anderson, nobody. The reason I want to see Izzy is because after the elimination, Izzy is the only person I consistently had contact with, and she didn't tell anyone, she tried to help me sneak back into the competition in fact, I owe her a lot eh" I'm shocked that he even trusts me enough to tell me that. "Ok Ezekiel, I can have all that arranged, but I going to have Chef around when you talk to them at all times, in case you either provoke them, or they do or say something to provoke you, got it?" "Crystal Clear eh" "Good, I'll see what I can do…" God Zeke, I hope you know what you're doing, I'm not going to have my plan backfire because of you!
1 WEEK LATER…
"Ok Blaineley, why did you bring us here?" Bridgette asks. "There's someone who wants to see you" she says. "Who is it?" Lindsay asks. "Why don't you go see?" she says.
All of the ex-members of Team Victory walk into a gym… Two people are there, Chef Hatchet, and someone lifting 150 pound weights… he hears them come in. "Towel Chef please" Chef gets him a wet towel, he puts down the weight, puts down the weight. He pulls himself up. "Hello Team Victory… good to see you again, or did you forget about me?"
"Ezekiel…" All the ex-members of Team Victory reply in shock. "Call me Zeke please" he says, putting the wet towel around his neck.
This is Ezekiel? They all think.
"So Zeke… why did you call us all here?" Bridgette asks.
"I think we all know the answer to that one, I wanna know WHY you voted me off on World Tour, I know I lost the stick… but it was more than that wasn't it?" Ezekiel says with some condescension in his voice.
"Actually… yeah, it was more than that; we felt you were a liability, and you would just drag us down sugar" Leshawna says.
He rubs his hands with the towel, and stares at them with a mocking smile
"REALLY? Me? A liability? That's a joke! Harold, you were annoying as shit!" Zeke says, pointing at Harold.
"You don't have to be so harsh about it, GOSH!" Harold replies.
"Bridgette, Leshawna, you were conned out of the game by Alejandro!"
"Hey! That's out of line!" Bridge says, a little annoyed.
"Is it? And DJ…YOU were stupid enough to get cursed back in Egypt!"
"Now that is TOTALLY OUT OF LINE!" DJ screams right back in his face.
"Do you really think you can intimidate me DJ?" Ezekiel chuckles. "Doesn't matter how big you are, you couldn't intimidate a squirrel" Zeke says.
"Really the only one who wasn't completely useless was Lindsay, and that's pretty sad, if you ask me" Zeke says. "Why Ezekiel, cause she's a girl?" Bridgette replies angrily.
"No, I actually admire Lindsay, she's a good leader, like I used to admire you Bridgette, not anymore though" Ezekiel replies snidely.
"Zane, why are you so hostile towards us? We didn't do anything to you" Lindsay says. "Actually, you did, you stabbed me in the back… WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE FRIENDS! WE ALL SWORE IN EGYPT THAT WE WOULD BE THE FINAL 6! YOU LIED TO ME!" He screams at them, fists shaking at his sides.
"Gosh… I'm sorry Zeke… I didn't realize at the time how your elimination would affect you, I'm sorry." "Sorry? YOU'RE SORRY NOW?! I sent you all letters telling you where I was recovering from after ROTHI, NONE OF YOU CAME, WHY?!" Ezekiel screams, tears flowing from his eyes.
"To be honest sugar, we were all afraid of you, after what happened to you… we were afraid" Leshawna says in shame. "So, that's it… you're all backstabbers… traitors, and cowards. Figures" Ezekiel says in disgust.
"Did any of you get invitations for Season 5?" "I did" Bridgette says. "So did I" DJ replies. "Oh, and me too" Lindsay says. "We did, but we're not going" Leshawna and Harold say. "Good, less competition for me… I wasn't invited, but I'm automatically in the fan-voting in the 'Villain' category, I'm confident I'm gonna make it, that's why I'm training"
"Do you plan on winning again?" DJ asks apprehensively.
"That's not my objective this time… I want VENGENCE!" Ezekiel says darkly. All his ex-teammates back away in fear.
Ezekiel laughs "Don't worry, you're not my targets, I already forgave Bridgette and Lindsay, I know you guys were looking for me during ROTHI" "As for you DJ, you're not worth going after" Zeke says.
DJ gulps "W-Who are you're targets then?" Zeke smiles crazily, and replies "Lightning from last year, for strapping a bomb to my chest and kicking me across a shaft, he nearly killed me… but he's a small fish compared too…" Zeke pulls out a large photo of Chris Mclean "CHRIS! HE RUINED MY LIFE! AND HE'S GONNA PAY EH!" Zeke yells, and then laughs manically while tearing the picture into confetti.
"Anyways, you guys can go, but I warn you…" Ezekiel says with malice in his voice. "… Bridgette, Lindsay, DJ… if you try to stop me, I'll destroy you all!" Zeke says, then laughs evilly as they walk out, chills running down their spines. "Did we create a monster?" Harold asks, gulping. "I think so… I'm sorry Ezekiel" Bridgette replies in sorrow.
"So how did that feel Zeke?" Blaineley asks. He smiles sinisterly "pretty good actually, I don't think Bridgette, DJ, or Lindsay will get in my way come competition time." "Good… do you still want to talk with Anne and Izzy?" "Yes, there are still some Demons that need to be buried" is Zeke's reply.
A Few Days later…
Zeke's at the targeting range wearing a white tee, green track pants, and blue sneakers, with green sunglasses on and his "Z" necklace around his neck. Anne Maria walks up to the targeting range, where Zeke is practicing with his bow. He hears her walk towards him, and He faces her. "Uh… I'm not sure I'm in the right place, they said Ezekiel would be waiting for me here" Anne Maria says. "I'm here eh" says Zeke. "You're ZEKE?!" Anne Maria says. "Ayup yup, this is me" is his reply.
"Oh… WOW, you look good!" Anne Maria says in surprise. Zeke chuckles "I guess I do, it's amazing what almost a full year of recovery and training with professionals will do" is his reply. "I'll say… so why did you call me here?" she asks. "I wanted to apologize, for costing you the chance to win the million" he says sheepishly.
"You know, I was pissed about that… but then I saw what happened to Dakota, and Scott, and um… you, No offense" Anne Maria says. "None taken" is Zeke's smiling reply. "Plus, It turns out Chris was wrong- "What the hell is that moron not wrong about?" Zeke interrupts her, laughing. "True" Anne says chuckling. "Anyways, that Fake wasn't completely worthless… the sheer size of the thing ensured I got 10 grand for it" Anne says. "Nice eh" Zeke replies chuckling.
"I know it's not 1 million dollars, but I'll take it" Anne says. "Sooo… Anne Maria…" Ezekiel tries to say. "No" She says before he can even finish. "What?" "Ha, Zeke you're funny, I know when a guy is trying to come onto me" Anne Maria says. "There's no way it would work out… you're a homeschooled prairie boy, I'm a big city girl. You're smart; I'm dumb enough to fall for another person's alternate personality. Sorry, but we're just too different" Anne Maria says.
"Can we at least be friends?" Zeke asks with hand extended, smiling. "Of course I'll be your friend Ezekiel" Anne Maria says, shaking his hand. "I have to go now, goodbye Zeke" Anne says walking away.
Blaineley's POV: I walk up to Ezekiel, "So, how did it go with Anne?" "Better than expected, worse than I'd hoped" (1) is his reply. "She friend-zoned you huh?" I ask smiling. "Ayup" he says chuckling slightly. "Can I ask you something Blaineley?" "Sure Zeke" I reply. "Why did you REALLY want to bring me here? To train me? To strengthen me? Is it all really to end Total Drama? Or do you want to use me too take it for yourself?" Zeke asks in a very serious tone.
I'm shocked by the question, so shocked I'm unable to speak for a split second. "Answer carefully Blaine, I can read you like a book" Zeke says. "Well, that's one hell of a question" I think. How do I answer? Do I lie? Or do I tell him the truth? "Hurry up Blaine, I'm aging here eh" Zeke says deadpanly.
"Well he trusted me with his deepest darkest secret, he didn't even tell his PARENTS about Izzy, I owe it to do the same for him" I think. "Well, I'm waiting" he says impatiently. "Screw it! Ezekiel deserves the truth and nothing less" is my final thought before I tell him. "Zeke, you want the truth? Fair enough… I do want Total Drama to end, I want Chris Ruined, but I didn't tell you the whole story…" I continue as my eyes start to glisten as I remember what Chris put me through.
"I told you that I was in relationship with him right? What I didn't tell you Ezekiel was I was engaged to Chris Mclean, we were going to get married after World Tour ended" I say.
Ezekiel's POV: "I was engaged to Chris, and we were going to get married" Those words bounce around my skull. I'm utterly thunderstruck by those words. "Um… Zeke… you look lost in thought, do you want me to continue?" "Yes please, I was just a little shocked eh" I reply. Blaineley chuckles bitterly in response as tears start to come down her face.
"Anyways, I thought things were going great, I was truly in love with the bastard, until he pushed me out of that damn plane with a faulty parachute, as you know, my landing was pretty harsh, almost every bone in my body was broken, and I should've been dead" she says.
Blaineley continues her mascara beginning to streak… "A few weeks after World Tour ended, Chris came to see me in my hospital bed, I was expecting an apology, some regret at what he did… damn was I ever w-wrong… BWAAAAWAHHH!"
She begins crying profusely, her mascara now flowing from her eyes down her face, I feel so sorry for her. I hug her and say "Blaineley, it's okay… if you're in too much pain to tell me everything right now, I understand" I say.
Blaineley's POV: "Blaineley, it's okay…if you're in too much pain to tell me everything right now, I understand" "Zeke, why are you hugging ME? Comforting ME? After all the suffering I helped put you through, why are you so understanding?" I think to myself.
"No, I want you to hear this" I reply. "Anyways, he came to visit me, he didn't apologize to me, he told me he was breaking off the engagement because I was "dead weight" and I was "completely useless".
He took off his wedding band, smiled at me, then tossed it onto my belly, then walked out of the room." I continue, my fists now shaking with rage. "SO NOT ONLY DID HE BREAK MY BODY, BUT HE SHATTERED MY HEART TOO FOR FUN!" I scream, crying.
Ezekiel hugs me again… "It okay eh… you can cry onto my shoulder as long as you need to eh" he says in calm, soothing voice. I cry in his arms for a while. Eventually, I stop crying and release him. "Why are you so understanding? Compassionate? You should hate me for what I did to you Zeke" I say
He takes my hands in his, and says: "I'm compassionate because it's become apparent that you're another victim of the sick game Chris plays to get higher ratings, to win more Gemmie awards, and to feed his egomania" is his reply.
Zeke continues… "You're as much a victim as me, as Alejandro is, as Dakota is, as Scott is… we're all victims in his game." "I'm sorry for what happened to you Ezekiel" I say. "It's okay, it ain't your fault eh… you should get cleaned up eh… you're a mess!" Zeke says laughing. I laugh too… "I guess I am huh? Don't worry Zeke, I'll personally make sure that you get to see Izzy" I say as I walk away to clean myself up. "I'm looking forward to it" Zeke says beaming. "Oh, and Zeke…" "What?" "Thank you for understanding" "Anytime, we're in this together right?" Zeke asks as he walks back to the targeting range.
2 weeks later…
Izzy's POV: "So Izzy really gets to see Zekey again Blaineley?" I ask her as she's driving me to Zeke's apartment. "Yes, yes you do" Blaine says in reply. "He's been waiting for you for a while now, oh look! There he is!" Blaine exclaims, smiling as we see Zeke waiting by his apartment building. She stops the car, and I practically jump out of the car…
"ZEKEY!" I scream in excitement as I run over to him. "Izzy…" He says as he opens his arms with a warm smile, and we hug…
Zeke's POV: Finally, I'm hugging Izzy again… the first time since World Tour… "Izzy… I so glad to see you" I say. "So is Izzy" is her reply. "Would you like to come in to my apartment Izzy, you know, just to catch up eh?" I ask. "Izzy would like that very much Zeke" is her warm reply.
Izzy's POV: We take the elevator to the top floor, where Zeke's apartment is… "Here it is eh… 10-16" he says. He opens the door, "The Lady first eh" he says. "You were always the Gentleman Zekey" I reply as I walk in. I stare in awe at the size of it all… "Zekey, how can you afford this?" I ask. He smiles slyly… "Blaineley's paying for it eh" is his reply. At this, I start to laugh. As l'm laughing to the point of crying, we sit on Zeke's (Very comfy) black leather sofa.
"So Zeke, it's been a long time… what have you been doing since Season 4 ended?"
Zeke's POV: "Well, I've been treated for PTSD, got out, and now I'm preparing to go back for another round of Total Drama eh" I say. "I'm surprised Zeke, I'd never think you'd even want to near that show ever again" Izzy says to me. "Ezekiel, I think I know why you're going back, you're involved with Blaineley… you want vengeance on Chris for what he put you through huh?" Izzy says. I freeze for a moment…
"Damnit, I forgot how good she is at reading me" I think. "You got me eh… but it's not just for me… Blaine, Alejandro, Scott, Dakota, Sierra, you… Chris Mclean has plenty of broken bodies and shattered lives to answer for eh… AND IS GOD IS MY WITNESS, I'LL MAKE DAMN SURE HE DOES!"
Izzy looks at me with concern, and then her face softens into a warm smile. "I agree with you Zekey, but there's a difference between justice and vengeance" she continues.
"Justice is where you want someone to answer for their crimes, but aren't willing to hurt the people they care about. Vengeance, meanwhile is where someone is so driven to make someone pay, they end up pulling the people they care about into the crossfire" Izzy concludes, smiling.
"Holy crap, I never thought of it that way" I think. "She's completely right though…I'll have to keep that in mind"
"Thank you Izzy, for explaining the difference, I'll take it to heart eh" I say.
Izzy's POV: "I hope you do Zeke, I really do" I think. "Izzy hopes so, because Izzy cares about Zeke lots" I say. "Zeke cares about Izzy too eh" Zeke says blushing. I blush too… "Well Zekey, it's been really fun to catch up, but I have to go" I say. I kiss him on the cheek before I leave. "W-wait, why do I have to leave?" he as I leave, his face a light cheery. "Oh Zekey, you're so cut when you blush, but Izzy's also preparing to go back to Total Drama, and time's a wasting! I hope to see you there… bye for now Zeke!
Zeke's POV: I wave as she walks out of my apartment, "I hope to see you there too Izzy… I think I'm falling for you, I think I LOVE you Izzy, I can't WAIT to get there now…" I think. "Now, back to training for me eh" I say, grinning like a maniac.
4 MONTHS, 1 WEEK LATER, 2 WEEKS TILL ALL-STARS BEGINS…
"Well, that's it Ezekiel… Sierra has rigged the vote to ensure you get in, but not high enough that Chris will catch on to what we're doing" Blaineley says.
"Thank you Sierra" Zeke says to her. "No problem Ezekiel, kick Chris' ass for me ok?" "You can count on it eh" Zeke says as Sierra walks away, her job done.
"It's done! You're finally in, Chris will finally pay for what he's done, and we'll finally have our Revenge, for you, for me, for everyone!" Blaineley exclaims with excitement. "No Blaineley, not Revenge… Justice" Zeke replies.
"What's the difference?" Blaineley asks him. "Well Blaineley, I'll explain it to you how Izzy explained it to me…"
FIN
The quote Zeke uses is ripped straight out of a conversation between Urdnot Wrex and Commander Shepard in Mass Effect 2. If you played the game, you'll know where.
Ezekiel, Blaineley, Bridgette, Harold, Leshawna, DJ, Scott, Alejandro, Dakota, Izzy, Anne Maria, Chef Hatchet, and Chris Mclean don't belong to me. They're property of Jennifer Pertsch, Tom McGillis, Fresh TV, Teletoon, and Cartoon Network. Commander Shepard and Urdnot Wrex are property of Bioware and Electronic Arts.